How to extend 2x4 to reach the full height of the basement wall?
#1
12-30-17, 07:11 PM
How to extend 2x4 to reach the full height of the basement wall?
Hello all,
The builder made one unfinished wall in my basement. The setup is as follows:
Two 2x4 as bottom plate
Two 2x4 as top plate
2x4 as stud.
As you can see above, the contractor used some short pieced of 2x4 to connect the wall and the ceiling joist together.
I don't think this the right way to do it. The gap is around 3.5".
Question> What is the correct to build a sturd basement wall?
Thank you
The builder made one unfinished wall in my basement. The setup is as follows:
Two 2x4 as bottom plate
Two 2x4 as top plate
2x4 as stud.
As you can see above, the contractor used some short pieced of 2x4 to connect the wall and the ceiling joist together.
I don't think this the right way to do it. The gap is around 3.5".
Question> What is the correct to build a sturd basement wall?
Thank you
#2
12-30-17, 07:14 PM
Group Moderator
Buy 9' precut studs (104 5/8") and use a single top and bottom plate. Cut the studs to length as needed.
What's the total measurement from concrete floor to bottom of floor joist?
What's the total measurement from concrete floor to bottom of floor joist?
#4
12-30-17, 07:38 PM
Group Moderator
Yep, cut 9' precut down to 101, and use a single top and bottom plate. That looks like a lazy, fast way of building a wall. Why the plywood?
#5
12-31-17, 04:30 AM
Member
That looks like a lazy, fast way of building a wall.
#6
12-31-17, 05:24 AM
Member
It's impossible to build a wall the exact height for a basement, assuming you are building it on the floor and standing up, due to the hypotenuse length.
Build it 2" short, stand it up, then install a second top plate and nail it all together.
Build it 2" short, stand it up, then install a second top plate and nail it all together.
#7
12-31-17, 05:35 AM
Member
I would add blocking between the floor joists so that the wall can be attached to them so that the scabs can be removed and the wall will stand on its own. There appears to be nothing to nail the top plate to.
#8
01-04-18, 01:50 PM
Member
It could be a floating wall. The builder may have been required to build it short due to code requirements. In my City, code requires all interior basement walls to maintain at least a 1" gap from the top of that wall to the floor joist on the floor above it. This gap is not required on walls around the perimeter of the basement, rather just those that run within the middle of the basement (such as ones that separate one room form another). Again, that is only in my area, however I know that is also required in other jurisdictions such as Colorado.
The builder may have simply cut corners or taken the easy way, they also may have done it that way for a reason.
Before you build out / change your basement, you should check with your city building codes to see what is allowed and what is required.
The builder may have simply cut corners or taken the easy way, they also may have done it that way for a reason.
Before you build out / change your basement, you should check with your city building codes to see what is allowed and what is required.
